Page - 662 - in Book of Full Papers - Symposium Hydro Engineering

(c) Poonch River Mahaseer National Park conservation objectives. These actions will include, among others: 1) Implementing an effective watch and ward system supported by institutional arrangements to reduce illegal and indiscriminate hunting and killing of wildlife (both aquatic and terrestrial) including several bans on non-selective fishing, fishing in tributary breeding grounds, fishing during the breeding season, and sediment mining in ecologically sensitive areas 2) Prohibiting removal of vegetation that is important for supporting biodiversity 3) Increasing park staff, patrols and mining inspectors 4) Limiting areas designated for sediment mining 5) Banning of livestock grazing and wood collection in sensitive areas 6) Conducting environmental awareness workshops for local communities. The Sponsors will finance supplemental park staff, equipment, facilities, and logistics to close the existing capacity gaps – including the construction of two park management offices and support to the local Fish and Wildlife Department (FWD) on the construction of a hatchery for Mahaseer on the Poonch river. This hatchery is a key component of the actions needed to increase numbers of the Mahaseer in the downstream portion of the Poonch river after the dam is in place as they will be cut off from their breeding grounds upstream. Therefore, success of this hatchery is critical to the success of the BAP actions and will be planned and monitored carefully. In addition, project sponsors will provide technical support to the local FWD by engaging experts in park management and river ecology. Institutional arrangements proposed in the BAP consists of putting in place a protection system for Poonch River Mahaseer National Park partly financed by the project and implemented by an independent organization 7) Active support from the local FWD by making available existing staff for protection and assistance in coordination with other government line departments such as police and district administration 8) Commitment by the local FWD to provide legal authority to the staff of the independent organization for exercising powers under wildlife legislation 9) Oversight and monitoring by the Wildlife Management Board of the local FWD 10) Monitoring by an independent third party on a long term basis. These actions, along with development of a strong Poonch River Mahaseer National Park management plan, are expected to lead to net gain on the indicator fish species populations and strengthen and support conservation objectives of the park The Environmental and Social Management System of Gulpur Hydropower project has been designed in compliance with the requirements of project lenders including IFC and ADB. The requirements of applicable performance standards of IFC and safeguard policy statement, 2009 of ADB are the key documents that 662